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History General

Lessons on the Noun Phrase in English

From Representation to Reference

by (author) Walter Hirtle

Publisher
McGill-Queen's University Press
Initial publish date
Sep 2009
Category
General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780773536043
    Publish Date
    Sep 2009
    List Price
    $49.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780773576438
    Publish Date
    Sep 2009
    List Price
    $49.95

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Description

Distinguishing the components that make up the meaning of a noun enables us to understand what permits us to say "Ground temperature plus one degrees," or to invent "small is beautiful." A careful look at the meaning and role of -'s and of words like a/the, any/some, this/that, often found in noun phrases, reveals how they refer to the speaker's message. Examining pronouns pin-points the fundamental role of the representation of a grammatical person in all noun phrases.

About the author

Walter Hirtle is professeur associé at l’Université Laval, Quebec City, and the author of several books, including Lessons on the English Verb: No Expression without Representation and Language in the Mind: An Introduction to Guillaume's Theory.

Walter Hirtle's profile page